updated 09:34 pm EDT, Sat October 19, 2013

Windows Phone devices to get Remote Desktop feature

Microsoft has confirmed that owners of Windows Phone devices will get access to a Remote Desktop feature in the future. The app will allow Windows Phone users to access a computer remotely and control it, according toThe Next Web, but Microsoft has yet to detail when the feature will become available for users of its smartphone operating system. Microsoft has already announced the feature for Android, and a version for iOS landed on Thursday.

"Remote desktop on phones is a relatively rare usage scenario," a Microsoft spokesperson said in a statement. "That said, we are working on a version of the app for Windows Phone. We'll be able to share timeframe at a later point in time."

The announcement came with the caveat that Microsoft will need to devote more manpower to developing the capability on its own platform. The lack of a Remote Desktop option on Windows Phone somewhat parallels the situation developers of other apps face when considering whether to build apps for Microsoft's platform, as Windows Phone has only recently approached double figures in terms of US smartphone market share.

Microsoft rolled out Remote Desktop for iOS devices on October 17, and a new version for OS X is also available. The Android version launched on Friday, meaning that Microsoft has covered virtually all bases with Remote Desktop save its own smartphone platform.